Onalytica.com has recently released their report on the difference between the most ‘influential’ and the most ‘popular’ authorities on the topic of blog marketing (link goes to .pdf file). The New York Times tops both lists, while Seth Godin ranks #3 for being ‘influential’ and #4 on the ‘popular’ list. Josh Hallett, on his Hyku blog, says, “Scratching your head? So am I?” over being ranked #2 in the ‘influence’ category.

The final conlcusion stated in Onalytica’s online report is that, “Sheer popularity can give influence, but…popularity is not a requirement for influence.” In his recent take on YouTube, Mr Godin states, “Right here, right now, it’s about people, not organizations.”

Though New York Times may beg to differ, I hope we are on the cusp of a deluge of online individual expression. Though what happens if we spend more time navigating through it instead of creating and adding to it?